Do you ever label yourself as "awkward" and then use that as a reason not to take a risk?

In the first episode of Season 6 of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater is joined by workplace performance expert Henna Pryor to unpack one of the biggest hidden barriers to studio growth: the fear of awkwardness.

Together, they challenge the idea that confident leaders "have it all together" and reveal that confidence isn't about avoiding discomfort, it's about recovering faster. From perfectionism and approval-seeking to emotional avoidance and leadership burnout, this conversation gives studio owners language, science, and permission to lead imperfectly and more effectively.

If you've ever delayed a hard conversation, second-guessed a decision, or felt like success still doesn't feel good, this episode will help you reframe discomfort as a skill you can train.

What You'll Learn:

• Why awkwardness is an emotion, not a personality trait

• How confident studio owners build a fast comeback rate

• The neuroscience behind social pain and why it feels so intense

• How perfectionism fuels shame cycles in dance studio leadership

• Why "positive mindset" can actually become emotional avoidance

• How to create psychological safety for yourself and your team

• The role of community in normalizing leadership missteps

• Why white space is essential for long-term resilience and clarity

• How reframing language (like "sacred time") changes behavior

• A simple reflection practice to uncover the stories driving your decisions

Henna Pryor, CSP, is a globally recognized Workplace Performance Expert, Inc. Magazine columnist, and award-winning author of Good Awkward. Known for her science-backed approach to performance mindset, communication, and leadership under pressure, Henna helps high-performing leaders embrace discomfort to drive meaningful, sustainable change.

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Follow Henna Pryor:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennapryor/

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Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater